"Valuegenesis" is a research study into the faith and values of young people attending Seventh-day Adventist high schools in North America in the three areas of family, school and church. The first survey was conducted in 1990, a second major survey was conducted in 2000, and a third took place in 2010. Related studies also termed "Valuegenesis" have been conducted in other countries.
History Valuegenesis began as one component of "Project Affirmation", a research study by the North American Division (United States and Canada) Office of Education into Adventist education.
The first study, "Valuegenesis1" (or simply Valuegenesis) began in 1989. In 1990, more than 13,000 students responded to a survey. Following the study, the Project Affirmation Taskforces gave recommendations for change, which they called "Imperatives for Action". It called for youth ministry resource centers to be established. The John H. Hancock Center for Youth Ministry was formed.
In 1993, Steve W. Case criticised the lack of focus on youth of the church, despite the results of the studies.ValueGenesis: Is Anyone Listening? by Steve Case
The children's Sabbath School curriculum was overhauled, with the lessons Our Little Friend through Insight completely rewritten in 2000."Lighten Up—You’re Only a Steward" by Margaret Christian. A commentary on the Sabbath School Lesson for June 6–12, 2009; Spectrum blog
Ten years after the first survey, in 2000, the follow-up study "Valuegenesis2" was conducted. More than 18,000 students responded from over 22,000 questionnaires sent out. According to reports by the researchers, students in the second study exhibited a greater faith maturity, yet spent less time reading the Bible.
Further studies were conducted in Europe"European Valuegenesis: a challenge!" by Corrado Cozzi and other parts of the world. For instance, a "Valuegenesis" survey was conducted in the South Pacific Division in 1997. The principal researcher was Barry Gane.Offhand mention in "More than 'bystanders'" by A. Allan Martin. Record 114:6 (February 21, 2009), p10–12
Spinoffs Valuegenesis has also inspired other studies. A study known as "AVANCE" (Spanish for "advance") was conducted of Latino Adventists in the North American Division in 1993 and 1994. See also the editor's introduction Edwin Hernández was the principal investigator of this study, which was a follow-up to Valuegenesis.
Steve W. Case edited the book Shall We Dance? Rediscovering Christ-Centered Standards, published in 1996.Shall We Dance? Rediscovering Christ-Centered Standards ed. Steve Case. (Riverside, California: La Sierra University Press; Project Affirmation volume 4, 1996) It is based on the Valuegenesis study, and has had a significant impact on the church. One review was by Richard Duerksen."Thinking Deeply With God" by Richard Duerksen, Visitor (Columbia Union) 101 (November 15, 1996), p4–5 Samuele Bacchiocchi's review was critical."Shall We Dance?" by Samuele Bacchiocchi. Adventists Affirm 14:2 (Summer 2000); part 1 , part 2 . The issue 's theme is "Worship v. Performance" See also an article of the same title by Case."Shall We Dance?" by Steve Case, College and University Dialogue 6:2 (1994), p16–17, 29 Other articles, again of the same title may be related – by Karl Tstalbasidis"Shall We Dance?" by Karl Tstalbasidis, Adventists Affirm 17 (Autumn 2003), p15–20 and Deena Bartel-Wagner.Deena Bartel-Wagner, "Dancing: Shall We Dance?". Youth Ministry Accent (July–September 2000), p19–21
Case is known for emphasizing the support of youth in the church. He is also more on the progressive (liberal) end of the church culturally; for instance, he re-evaluates traditional beliefs about dancing and jewelry.
Publications Barry Gane, Youth Ministry and the Transmission of Beliefs and Values, 1997. Valuegenesis Project Report no. 3
Project Affirmation V. Bailey Gillespie, ed. Perspectives on Values, 1993
See also Seventh-day Adventist education
References
External links ValueGenesis.org John Hancock Center for Youth and Family Ministry at La Sierra University
"New Valuegenesis report gives more insight into youth values" in Adventist Review 168. June 27, 1991, p. 6 (not yet online) "Have You Hugged Your Kids Today?" by Gail Taylor Rice in Spectrum May 1992 V. Bailey Gillespie, "Nurturing Our Next Generation", Adventist Review 167 (January 3, 1991), 5–11 Search for "Valuegenesis" articles cataloged in the Seventh-day Adventist Periodical Index (SDAPI)